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Biomedical subjects

H Takeya

Publications and source records attributed to H Takeya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Superconductivity in the metal rich Li-Pd-B ternary boride.

Superconductivity at about 8 K was observed in the metal-rich Li-Pd-B ternary system. Structural, microstructural, electrical, and magnetic investigations for various compositions proved that the Li2Pd3B compound, which has an antiperovskite cubic structure composed of distorted Pd6B octahedrons, is responsible for the superconductivity. This is the first observation of superconductivity in metal-rich ternary borides containing alkaline metal and Pd as a late transition metal. The compound prepared by arc melting has a high density and is relatively stable in the air. The upper critical fields H(c2)(0) estimated by linear extrapolation and the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg theory are 6.2 and 4.8 T, respectively.

Journal Article↗

Evidence of gap anisotropy in superconducting YNi2B2C using directional point-contact spectroscopy.

We present a study of the anisotropy in the superconducting energy gap in a single crystal of YNi2B2C (T(c) approximately 14.6 K) using directional point-contact spectroscopy. The superconducting energy gap at 2.7 K, when measured for I||c, is 4.5 times larger than that for I||a. The energy gaps in the two directions also have different temperature dependences. Our results support a scenario with s + g like symmetry.

Journal Article↗

Low energy quasiparticle excitation in the vortex state of borocarbide superconductor yni2b2c.

We measured the heat capacity C(p) and microwave surface impedance Z(s) in the vortex state of YNi2B2C. In contrast to conventional s-wave superconductors, C(p) shows a square root[H] dependence. This square root[H] dependence persists even after the introduction of the columnar defects which change the electronic structure of the vortex core regime and destroy the regular vortex lattice. On the other hand, flux flow resistivity is nearly proportional to H. These results indicate that the vortex state of YNi2B2C is fundamentally different from the conventional s-wave counterparts, in that the delocalized quasiparticle states around the vortex core are important, similar to d-wave superconductors.

Journal Article↗

Determination of hydrogen peroxide by iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified ion-exchanger with peroxidase-like catalytic activity.

An iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified anion-exchanger (Fe3+-TCAS(A-500)) has shown high peroxidase-like activity at pH 5 - 6 for the reaction of quinoid-dye formation between 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and N-(3-sulfopropyl)aniline in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Utilizing the peroxidase-like activity of Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) for this reaction, a method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration curve by the method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was linear over the range from 1 to 10 microg of hydrogen peroxide in a 1 ml sample solution. The apparent molar absorptivity for hydrogen peroxide was 2.4 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). which was about 80% of that by peroxidase under the same conditions. This determination method of hydrogen peroxide using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the determination of glucose in diluted normal and abnormal control serum I and II.

Calibration↗

Coagulation and fibrinolytic activities in 2 siblings with beta(2)-glycoprotein I deficiency.

beta(2)-Glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI) is a major antigen for antiphospholipid antibodies, and its multiple in vitro functions have been reported. This glycoprotein not only down-regulates thrombin formation by inhibiting contact activation or prothrombinase activity, but also up-regulates coagulation by reducing protein C anticoagulant activity. However, the in vivo roles of beta(2)GPI remain obscure. Coagulation and fibrinolytic characteristics were investigated in individuals with beta(2)GPI deficiency. An apparently healthy woman and her brother are homozygotes for beta(2)GPI deficiency. In these patients, Russell viper venom time was shortened (40.4 seconds; normal range, 47.8 +/- 4.95 seconds), but all markers of thrombin generation and fibrin turnover were within normal ranges. Exogenous activated protein C adequately prolonged the clotting time of the beta(2)GPI-deficient plasma, and euglobulin lysis time was also normal. Thus, elevated thrombin generation, enhancement of activated protein C response, and an altered fibrinolytic system were not found in congenitally beta(2)GPI-deficient plasma. (Blood. 2000;96:1594-1595)

Adult↗

Imaging of a vortex lattice transition in YNi2B2C by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

The vortex lattices in YNi2B2C under the magnetic fields H up to 3 T applied along both the a and the c axes have been studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy at 4.2 K. The vortex lattice transition has been found to occur in different manners for H parallela and H parallelc; in H parallela a slightly distorted hexagonal vortex lattice has been found to transform to a nearly square one above 1.0 T with increasing H, while in H parallelc the transition occurs at a much lower field around 0.1 T. The unconventional steep increase of the quasiparticle density of states outside the vortex core has also been found well below H(c2).

Journal Article↗

Changes of plasma hemostatic markers during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Changes of hemostatic parameters during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 75 patients with chronic coronary artery disease were evaluated. Plasma levels of D-dimer, soluble fibrin monomer, plasmin-alpha2 antiplasmin inhibitor complex, and tissue factor (TF) were significantly increased in all patients with chronic coronary artery disease. The activity of antithrombin and protein C and the levels of protein C antigen were significantly decreased 1 hr after PTCA, but they returned to normal range 1 day after PTCA. There was no significant difference in the level of plasma APC-PCI complex before and 1 hr after PTCA. The plasma levels of D-dimer, soluble fibrin monomer, thrombomodulin, TF and PPIC were significantly decreased 1 hr, and the plasma levels of plasmin-alpha2 antiplasmin inhibitor complex 1 day after PTCA. These findings suggest that the decrease of protein C and antithrombin resulted in activation of the coagulation system. One hour after PTCA, the plasma levels of (total-free) TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI) were significantly decreased, but the plasma levels of total and free-TFPI were significantly increased, suggesting that consumption of (total-free) TFPI occurs during PTCA. Overall, these findings suggest that the hypercoagulable state improves during PTCA and that transient decrease of antithrombin, protein C, (total-free) TFPI or plasmin-alpha2 antiplasmin inhibitor complex may cause restenosis of coronary artery.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Thrombin in the airways of asthmatic patients.

The mechanism of airway remodeling in asthmatic patients is poorly understood. Thrombin is a multifunctional protease that, in addition to its critical role in thrombotic processes, has also been described as inducing cellular and molecular events relevant to tissue remodeling. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the activity of thrombin in the sputum of asthmatic patients and its potential role in airway remodeling. The study population comprised 8 healthy subjects and 14 stable patients with bronchial asthma. The concentrations of thrombin, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and tissue factor were measured in the sputum of all subjects. The concentrations of thrombin (p = 0. 007), TAT (p = 0.01), and tissue factor (p = 0.02) in sputum were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in healthy controls. The proliferative effects that sputum from asthmatic patients (p = 0. 01) and thrombin (p = 0.03) have on cultured human smooth muscle cells was inhibited significantly in the presence of recombinant hirudin, a specific thrombin inhibitor. Significant statistical correlation was observed between the degree of bronchial responsiveness and the sputum concentrations of thrombin (r = -0.8; p = 0.02) and TAT (r = -0.9; p = 0.01). The results of this study showed that increased thrombin generation occurs in the airway of patients with asthma and that it may play a role in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling. Further studies should be carried out to assess whether these findings are also observed in other airway diseases.

Antithrombin III↗

The zymogen prothrombin stimulates cell locomotion and calcium influx in murine osteosarcoma cells by different mechanism from thrombin.

The coagulation system plays a role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Prothrombin was previously found to stimulate the motility of melanoma cells. We compared the effect of prothrombin and thrombin on cell motility, calcium influx and actin stress filament contraction in highly metastatic osteosarcoma LM8 cells. Prothrombin and thrombin stimulated chemotaxis and chemokinesis of LM8 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Calcium influx was significantly increased after stimulation with thrombin and prothrombin. Thrombin and prothrombin markedly stimulated actin contraction in LM8 cells. Hirudin inhibited the effects of thrombin but not those of prothrombin. Prothrombin appears to stimulate cell locomotion, actin contraction, calcium influx in LM8 cells by different mechanism from thrombin.

Actins↗

Adenosine regulates tissue factor expression on endothelial cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of adenosine on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), thrombin-, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced tissue factor (TF) expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This inhibitory effect of adenosine was found to be counteracted by the non-selective adenosine receptor (AR) antagonist, 8-(p-sulfophenyl) theophylline. To clarify the role of ARs (A1, A2a, A2b, and A3) in this regulation, we evaluated the effect of several agonists and antagonists specific for AR-subclass on TF expression. The selective A2aAR agonist, 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl) phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine hydrochloride (CGS 21680), the A3AR agonist, N6-2-(4-aminophenyl) ethyladenosine (APNEA), and the A1AR antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-(2-amino-4-chlorophenyl) xanthine (PACPX) each inhibited TF activity expression induced by TNF, thrombin, or PMA on HUVECs. In contrast, the selective A1AR agonist, chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) and the A2AR antagonist, 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX) enhanced each stimulant-induced TF activity expression. All agonist or antagonist alone did not alter the basal TF expression on HUVECs. Our results suggest that stimulation of A2aAR and A3AR down-regulates and that of A1AR up-regulates the endothelial cell TF expression induced by TNF, PMA, or thrombin. Thus, it appears that adenosine itself may exert anticoagulant activity on vascular endothelial cells via its A2a and A3 receptors, particularly during ischemic or atherosclerotic processes which are known to be associated with local increased levels of adenosine.

Adenosine↗

Protein C anticoagulant system in patients with interstitial lung disease.

Excessive procoagulant activity in the alveolar space may play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Hypercoagulability results from the disruption of the balance between the procoagulant and anticoagulant factors. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of molecular markers of the anticoagulant protein C (PC) pathway in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma of 11 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 14 with sarcoidosis and 16 with collagen vascular disease (CVD)-associated interstitial lung disease (CVD-ILD). Six healthy nonsmoking volunteers served as control subjects. BALF concentrations of the marker of clotting activation, thrombin- antithrombin III complex (TAT), in patients with sarcoidosis and CVD-ILD were significantly greater than those in control subjects. PC levels in BALF were markedly higher in patients with IPF (610 +/- 150 ng/ml), sarcoidosis (680 +/- 170 ng/ml), and CVD-ILD (1,580 +/- 600 ng/ml) than in control subjects (230 +/- 140 ng/ml). BALF concentrations of activated PC-PC inhibitor (APC-PCI) complex were significantly decreased in IPF (0.46 +/- 0.16 ng/ml), sarcoidosis (0. 43 +/- 0.11 ng/ml), and CVD-ILD (0.50 +/- 0.15 ng/ml) patients as compared with control subjects (1.08 +/- 0.23 ng/ml). APC-PCI/PC ratios were significantly lower in patients with IPF (2.70 +/- 1.74 ng/microg), sarcoidosis (1.94 +/- 0.82 ng/microg), and CVD-ILD (1.89 +/- 0.68 ng/microg) than in control subjects (15.91 +/- 8.45 ng/microg). Plasma levels of APC- PCI and the APC-PCI/PC ratio were also significantly decreased in patients with CVD-ILD as compared with control subjects. Overall, these findings suggest that decreased PC activation with increased procoagulant activity occurs in patients with ILD.

Antithrombin III↗

Prothrombin and its derivatives stimulate motility of melanoma cells.

Several studies indicated that activation of the clotting system may promote the growth and the invasive behavior of tumor cells. In the present study, we evaluated the migratory response of various melanoma cell lines to several clotting factors and prothrombin derivatives (thrombin, fragment 1, fragment 2 and kringle 1 fragment). Prothrombin, thrombin and fragment 1 stimulated chemotaxis of the murine (K-1735 M2, X21) and human A375 (SM) melanoma cell lines. Prothrombin and prothrombin fragment 1 showed their maximal chemotactic activity at 0.5 approximately 1 microM. Chemotaxis induced by thrombin was inhibited by hirudin, but not that induced by prothrombin or fragment 1. Other clotting proteins and the fragment 2 and kringle 1 fragment of prothrombin did not elicit chemotactic activity. Checkerboard analysis indicated that motility was directional with a significant chemokinetic component. The K-1735 M2 cells also migrated in a concentration-dependent manner to substratum-bound insoluble prothrombin, thrombin or fragment 1. Ligand binding assays showed that both prothrombin and fragment 1 bound to K-1735 M2 cells with apparent Kds of 0.5 microM. This binding was inhibited by an excess concentration of unlabeled prothrombin and fragment 1 but not by similar concentrations of other prothrombin fragments. These findings suggest that prothrombin and its fragment 1 exert chemotactic activity on melanoma cells by different mechanisms and different binding sites from that induced by thrombin.

Animals↗

Dilazep, an antiplatelet agent, inhibits tissue factor expression in endothelial cells and monocytes.

Dilazep, an antiplatelet agent, is generally used as an antithrombotic drug in clinical practice. Dilazep is also known to exert cytoprotective and antioxidant effects on endothelial cells. However, its effect on the endothelial or monocyte procoagulant activity is unknown. In the current study, the effect of dilazep on the expression of tissue factor (TF) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after the stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), thrombin, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was evaluated. We also evaluated the effect of dilazep on TNF (1,000 U/mL)-induced TF expression on monocytes. Dilazep inhibited TF activity induced on HUVECs by each stimulant, TNF (1000 U/mL), thrombin (25 nmol/L), or PMA (5 nmol/L) in a dose-dependent fashion (1 to 100 microg/mL). TF activity decreased to approximately 10% after treating with 100 microg/mL of dilazep. Dilazep also blocked the expression of TF antigen induced by each stimulant on the surface of HUVECs as determined by flow cytometric analysis. In addition, in HUVECs, it significantly decreased the expression of TF mRNA and the total TF antigen induced by thrombin or PMA, but not those induced by TNF, suggesting that dilazep blocks the TF expression induced by PMA or thrombin at a transcriptional level and that induced by TNF at a posttranscriptional level. Western blot analysis showed that dilazep reduces the accumulation of native TF but increases that in lower molecular weight TF derivatives. The adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-(p-sulfophenyl) theophylline, partially counteracted the anticoagulant activity of dilazep on HUVECs, thereby suggesting that the inhibitory effect of dilazep on TF expression in HUVECs depends, at least in part, on its adenosine potentiating activity. Dilazep also inhibited TNF-induced TF expression on monocytes in a dose-dependent fashion (0.1 to 100 microg/mL). In brief, the current study showed for the first time that dilazep, a commonly used antiplatelet drug, strongly inhibits the TF expression in HUVECs and monocytes. Dilazep may have a potent therapeutic value in patients with hypercoagulable state for its inhibitory property on the procoagulant activity of endothelial cells and monocytes.

Adenosine↗

Anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) monoclonal antibodies with lupus anticoagulant-like activity enhance the beta2GPI binding to phospholipids.

beta2-Glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), a plasma glycoprotein with phospholipid-binding property, is known to be the actual target antigen for autoimmune type anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs). Certain groups of aCLs (anti-beta2GPI antibodies) exert lupus anticoagulant (LA) activity and perturb the function of vascular endothelial cells. This investigation aimed at highlighting some insights into the molecular basis by which aCLs exert their biological effects by using anti-beta2GPI mAbs with well-characterized epitopes from mice and from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. Anti-beta2GPI mAbs directed against the third domain (Cof-20 and Cof-22) and fourth domain (Cof-21, EY1C8, and EY2C9) of beta2GPI inhibited the thrombin generation induced by Russell's viper venom in diluted plasma and that induced by the prothrombinase complex reconstituted with purified clotting factors. This anticoagulant activity was abrogated in the presence of an excess amount of phospholipids, thus resembling the LA activity. In stark contrast, anti-beta2GPI mAbs directed against the fifth domain and the carboxy-terminal region of the fourth domain showed no LA-like activity. These findings suggest that the LA activity of anti-beta2GPI antibodies depends on their epitope specificity. Experiments carried out to clarify the mechanism of the LA activity showed that anti-beta2GPI mAbs with LA-like activity, but not those without this effect, enhance the beta2GPI binding to phospholipids. In addition, the F(ab')2 fragment, but not the Fab' fragment, of the anti-beta2GPI mAbs was found to enhance the LA activity and the beta2GPI binding to phospholipids, suggesting that anti-beta2GPI antibodies induce formation of multiple complexes of beta2GPI on the surface of phospholipids because of their bivalent property. This clustering of beta2GPI molecules induced by anti-beta2GPI antibodies, probably because of their multivalent property and epitope specificity, might hinder the lateral mobility and activation of clotting factors on the surface of phospholipids and thus exert LA activity. Clustering of beta2GPI molecules may also explain the molecular mechanism by which anti-beta2GPI antibodies alter the function of leukocytes and endothelial cells. The well-documented heterogeneous LA activity of aCLs (anti-beta2GPI antibodies) may also be explained by their epitope specificity.

Animals↗

Prothrombin kringle 1 domain interacts with factor Va during the assembly of prothrombinase complex.

The kringle 2 domain of prothrombin has been shown to interact with factor Va during the activation of prothrombin by the prothrombinase complex composed of factor Xa, factor Va, negatively charged phospholipids and Ca2+ ions. However, contradictory results have been reported about the role of the kringle 1 domain of prothrombin during the assembly of the prothrombinase complex. In an attempt to clarify the role of the kringle 1 domain of prothrombin, its effect on the activation of prothrombin by the prothrombinase complex and its direct binding to human factor Va were assessed. Comparative evaluation with the effects caused by other prothrombin structural components [a fragment 1 (gamma-carboxyglutamic acid and kringle 1 domains), a kringle 2 domain and a catalytic protease domain] was also performed. In the presence of factor Va, each kringle 1 and kringle 2 fragment significantly inhibited the factor Xa-catalysed prothrombin activation in the absence of phospholipids. However, in the absence of both factor Va and phospholipids, kringle 2 fragment, but not kringle 1 fragment, inhibited prothrombin activation. Evaluation of the molecular interaction of the kringle domains with factor Va in assays with solid-phase phospholipid vesicles showed that each kringle 1 and kringle 2 fragment inhibited the prothrombinase complex activity. Assessment of the direct binding of prothrombin and each kringle domain of prothrombin with factor Va by fluorescence polarization showed that prothrombin, kringle 1 and kringle 2 fragments bind directly to factor Va with dissociation constants of 1.9+/-0.1, 2.3+/-0.1 and 2.0+/-0.4 microM (means+/-S.D.) respectively. These findings suggest that both kringle 1 and 2 domains of prothrombin interact with factor Va during the assembly of the prothrombinase complex.

Blood Coagulation↗

[Thrombosis and apoptosis].

Apoptosis is a controlled form of cell death that allows the removal of cells during physiological or pathological processes. Recent studies suggested a potential link of apoptosis with processes leading to thrombophilia. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which apoptotic cells would cause activation of blood coagulation and instability of atherosclerotic plaque leading to increased thrombus formation. A well-recognized acquired thrombophilia is the anti-phospholipid syndrome. Alterations of the phospholipid phase of cell membranes in the course of membrane blebbing, a characteristic morphological change occurring during the late apoptotic process, have been shown to be associated with the production of anti-phospholipid antibodies. These surface blebs on apoptotic cells have been shown to be the sites of enhanced procoagulant activity. Reversely, several anti-phospholipid antibodies may also induce apoptosis resulting in the formation of immunogenic and highly procoagulant surface blebs. Apoptosis was also found to be associated with increased cell surface tissue factor procoagulant activity, the so called tissue factor de-encryption. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is associated with increased thrombus formation. Apoptotic inflammatory cells such as macrophages and T cells are abundant in atherosclerotic plaque and may be related to plaque instability. During the process of endothelial cell apoptosis, a loss of the anticoagulant property of endothelial cell surface concomitantly with an increase in their adhesiveness for leukocytes might probably occur. These changes may be important for the rapid progression of the atherosclerotic process.

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid↗